Rippey’s 150+1 celebration has been completed. Several snippets of information will be shared as the planning committee closes the door on the sesquicentennial.
Thank you’s are so important, but this writer is almost fearful to provide them as some person or organization will be inadvertently omitted, but here we go….
The Greene County Community Foundation assisted with funding for the Rippey sesquicentennial mural that was painted by Sarah Stotts in the summer of 2020. The GCCF also partially funded the “I REMEMBER RIPPEY” book that contained stories written by persons with Rippey roots. This publication was coordinated by Phyllis McElheney Lepke and published by Raspberry Ridge of Jefferson.
Starting in 2020, Clark Fessler, owner of T C B Authentic, and native rural Rippey resident, provided baseball hats, T-shirts, and plates commemorating the celebration. These items were sold with all sales going to fund the celebration.
The restoration of the baseball field was a community labor-intensive effort led by groundskeepers Mel Murken and Merle Jackson. The Greene County board of supervisors, using Louis Dreyfus funds, provided financial support to improve the safety of the field by installing a wider safety track. Once again, the Greene County Community Foundation assured safety for the fans by providing a portion of the funding to refurbish and paint the wooden grandstand. Volunteer painters from John Jontz painting services of Woodward scraped and painted the restrooms, shelter house, and community room doors.
The actual day of the celebration on July 31 brought more parade entries than were expected – 60 – but they were warmly welcomed. The planning committee very much appreciated the vintage tractors appearing, and then participating in a tractor ride to the site of the Old Rippey cemetery. Kyle Kenan was the coordinator and leader for the antique tractors becoming a part of the celebration.
There were 67 car show entries and included some tractors, a truck, and a motorcycle. Entrants lined both sides of the west half of Main Street, plus some overflow onto the side streets. Rippey’s former post office official, Kat Butler, coordinated this effort.
The six food trucks, the members of the Methodist Church, and the Greene County Cattlemen provided a variety of foods for the 500-700 estimated attendees. The 16 craft vendors had an assortment of homemade crocheted items, bracelets, candles, food products, honey products, as well as providing caricature drawings. We are happy to report the vendors were very pleased with their sales.
The children were well entertained near the skating rink and shelter house with three inflatable bouncy houses, a spectacular bubble show, a pedal pull, face painting, and spin art. These activities were all free and it was a heartwarming to observe the excitement of the children. When the inflatable houses were taken down, there were even a few tears from some of the children.
In the early afternoon the Rippey International air strip featured 50 radio-controlled planes and 12 pilots from the Des Moines Modelaires. Marc Monthei former Rippey resident, and himself a former Des Moines Modelaires pilot, recruited this club. They had asked to be invited back to the next Rippey event.
The two-inch rain on Friday evening prior to the celebration left a large pool of water on the Walt Anderson baseball field between second and third base. The 3 pm start for the Reunion game was doomed. Through the efforts of many, water was drained off the infield, and thanks to a large fan run with a generator, brooms and rakes, the field was ready for action by 7 pm.
Bigfoot was present on the library lawn, in a premier Greene County Players performance of the “Bigfoot Monologues”. What a fun experience the outdoor performance was for families that attended.
There have been many questioning as to what was buried in the time capsule 50 years ago. The capsule was resurrected from Osborn Park by mayor Dan Brubaker, and the contents were examined and shared by Roy Bardole, now 50 years older than when he placed them in the sealed container. Contents included Items connected with the Centennial celebration, and a few that were of historical significance; a program of the Centennial pageant, volumes of Rippey history, registration book, and commemorative items such as cards, plate, mug, tie, hat, and garter. Centennial badges, newspaper articles, pictures of the celebration, and a scrap book were all revealed. Those items, plus items available from Sesquicentennial merchandise, a syringe used for giving a Covid vaccination, and other items will be reburied in the time capsule and replaced at the Osborn Park for examination in 2071.
The Churdan Town and County Band portrayed flexibility as their concert was moved away from the ballpark to the skating rink and was then in “competition” with the 16 Staples playing on Main Street at 6:30. Both music venues were enjoyed.
The Reunion Game began at 7, with Chris Roberts substituting as announcer for the game because of the time change. His wife Brenda opened the Reunion game singing the National Anthem. Representatives for the Bulldogs and Hawks wore purple and green jerseys along with baseball hats provided by T C and B Authentic. Linda Young led the crowd in singing “TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME”.
The ambulance was available for the Reunion Game, and attended twice, at 3 for the originally scheduled game, and then returned at 7. Thank you, Michelle Madsen and the Greene County Ambulance.
Prior to the spectacular fireworks emitting from Roger Norgren’s cornfield, the raffle drawings were completed. The baseball quilt made by Fran Norgren Teagarden was won by her brother Roger, who in turn gifted the quilt to Rippey’s baseball commissioner, Mel Murken.
Five tickets were raffled in response to individuals bringing their magnets (used to promote the day) to the registration tent and then completing a raffle ticket. Prizes included a Jefferson as well as Perry HyVee gift card, two gift cards from Rippey Sparky’s, and a donation by the Perry Fareway Meat and Grocery. Thank you to those donors.
The day was considered a success primarily because so many Rippey friends, alumni and family members returned from as far away as Texas, Wisconsin, and California for gatherings.
The planning committee wishes to express gratitude to all who assisted, donated, and attended.
